Museum Week: Best family friendly museums in London

With it being Museum Week and all, we wanted to share with you our top family friendly museums to visit in London. The best bit…they are all FREE!

National Army Museum

This museum, located in Chelsea, had a major refurb in 2017 and wow did they do an incredible job in upping their family appeal. The museum explores British Military history from the English Civil War up to modern day and with the continuous interactives throughout, there is really, never a dull moment for the little ones. The subject matter is a little raw but they do a great job at addressing it well to children. From marching in a drill, climbing under tanks, dressing up, playing the drums, to sorting your rations, the galleries do a wonderful job of engaging the kiddies. They provide activity backpacks for different age ranges that are an excellent addition when exploring the galleries and there is also the super Play Base area, an immersive experience for ages 8 and under, which includes a soft play assault course, climbing aboard an army truck and preparing food in the cookhouse.Top Tip
If you want to make it a totally free day, take a picnic. Battersea Park is just a 12 minute walk away.

National Maritime Museum

Ah Greenwich, what a wonderful place to visit and it is home to this brilliant free museum to boot. Be sure to get in full on sailor mode as you explore fascinating stories of explorations at sea. The museum is full to the brim with family friendly exhibits and information, from the Great Map with boats the kids can sit on, a boat simulator and a chance to come face to face with the greats, Cook, Nelson and Columbus. There is literally something for everyone. The AHOY Children’s Gallery for 0-7’s is a little haven for the smalls (just be aware it is only free weekdays, there is a very small fee on weekends and bank holidays) and the All Hands Children Gallery aimed at ages 6 – 12 is great fun too even for slightly younger children.Top Tip
They are always running really good family friendly events so totally recommend checking online before you go so you don’t miss out on any.

Horniman Museum

The Horniman Museum can be found in Forest Hill and includes displays of anthropology, natural history, musical. It houses the private collection of Frederick Horniman, a Victorian tea trader who filled up his whole house with fascinating objects such as stuffed animals, Egyptian mummies and musical instruments. The totally eclectic mix of exhibits is its major appeal and with a wide range of galleries there is always something new to explore. We love the hands-on space in the Music Gallery where the children can make as much noise as they like with various instruments and the World Gallery, that celebrates life all over the world. Then there are the gardens which are just beautiful on a sunny day. There is a little Animal Walk for the kids and plenty of space for picnics. On top of that there are regular activities on weekends, such as Hands on Base, where children can touch and explore objects and Art Makers, where you can explore art techniques as a family.Top Tip
Don’t miss the Walrus! It’s also worth noting there is an aquarium and they always have family friendly exhibits running. The current exhibition is Brick Wonders, which is perfect for any little Lego lovers out there, unfortunately both this and the aquarium require a small fee.

Museum of Childhood

Ahhh so much nostalgia in one place, this East London museum does a fantastic job in appealing to not only children, but adults too. From My Little Pony, to Care Bears you will be in reminiscing heaven in this museum that houses the largest collection of childhood objects in the UK ranging from the 1600’s to the present day. With plenty for the little ones to get their hands on, you can happily run around for a couple of hours lapping it all in alongside your child. It is the perfect balance of not being too big that it is over powering or too small that you get bored quickly. Interactives include a sensory area, building blocks, rocking horses and a sandpit. They run daily activities such as storytelling and arts and crafts and family friendly events in the holidays. They are also in the process of having a major redevelopment with an aim to becoming a world-leading museum of design and creativity for children and families. Watch this space!Top Tip
Make sure you grab one of their free family backpacks and trails from the helpdesk.

Museum of London Docklands

Canary Wharf is not only home to some of the tallest buildings in London but also to this fantastic little gem of a museum, which explores the history of London’s River Thames. For some reason this museum always seems a little quieter than most and that alone makes it more enjoyable as a family. The Mudlark’s Gallery, an interactive space for children up to 8 is fantastic. In this gallery children can load a tea clipper, tie nautical knots and weigh cargo whilst learning museum facts in a fun and engaging environment. Babies and toddlers are also well catered for with their soft play area and with recent interactives added to the galleries such as fancy dress, drawing and building a bridge, it has become an even bigger family friendly attraction. To top it all off their regular family events are amazing from family raves, pirate takeovers and a beautiful Santa’s Grotto at Christmas.Top Tip
Don’t miss Sailor Town, a recreation of the old docks from the 19thcentury. You are instantly transported back in time as you wander through the atmospheric streets.

Tate Britain

And last but by no means least, we are huge fans of Tate Britain, well both Tate’s actually but this one for us is more accessible. This art museum is the home of British art from 1500 to the present day and is a great space for those little legs to run around in. We love the easels in the 1840 display, where anyone can pick up a pencil and paper and draw to their hearts content. They also do a brilliant ‘Explore the Gallery’ session for under 5’s on the first Saturday of every month, such a fun and creative way for children to explore the gallery.Top Tip
The ‘Explore the Gallery’ sessions get booked up super quick so be ready to book as soon as the tickets go up or alternatively do what we do and sneak in on the day, they generally let you in…at your own risk though of course.